Glossary of Terms

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0b500840erlcjm.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>Glossary of Allergy Terms</B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Allergy Centre"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="eHealth Consultations "><U><B>Remote Consultation with the Allergy Centre through eHealth</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="eHealth Consultations "><U><B>Location of the Allergy Centre</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0af11c00egdysm.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Check Your Allergies"><U><B>Go to LIST OF ALLERGIES</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Schools"><U><B>Go to SCHOOL PROJECTS</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Journalists"><U><B>Go To JOURNALISTS PAGE</B></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>Phone</B></I></div> <div> <B>03 9874 4144</B></div> <div> <B>________________</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Allergy Terms explained</div> <bR> <div> Glossary of Allergy Terms</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Acute:</B></FONT><B> </B>means a <I><B>short</B></I> medical history or <I><B>duration</B></I> of a disease. It denotes fast progress and short action of a disease. Compare Chronic.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Allergen:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" > is any substance capable of causing an allergy. (The definition sort of goes round in circles doesn't it?) </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Allergy:</B></FONT><B> </B>we define allergy as being an altered state or response by the body to any substance. IgE mediated responses we prefer to call Atopy rather than allergy.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Atopy:</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" >is a greek word meaning 'a strange disease'. Modern usage tends to confine it to IgE mediated allergic responses. Most often manifested as a skin or mucous membrane response as against a generalised body response. An atopic individual is generally considered to be a person who has a genetic disposition to allergy.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Chronic:</B></FONT> means a <I><B>long</B></I> medical history or <I><B>duration</B></I> of a disease. It denotes slow progress and long continuation of a disease. Compare Acute.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Desensitisation:</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" >This is a medical procedure where antigen in controlled quantities is injected under the skin. This enables the body to develop resistance to the antigen. It is a form of vaccination.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Disease:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" > is literally dis-ease or lack of ease. Medically it is a disfunction of any of the organs, tissues or systems of the body.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Patch test: </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" >This is an allergy test where a special "patch" of test material is placed upon the skin and the allergy response tested</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prick test: </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" >This is an allergy test where an allergen is placed pricked onto the skin and the allergy response tested</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>RAST:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" > is an acronym for radioallergosorbent test, a specific type of serum test performed in a laboratory</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Sign:</B></FONT><B> </B>is any abnormality which indicates the presence of a disease and <I><B>found by the doctor on his examination</B></I> of a person. It is an objective symptom, whereas a symptom itself is subjective.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Symptom: </B></FONT>is any abnormal function of the body, including appearance or sensation, <I><B>experienced by a person </B></I>and that indicates a diseases process.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B>Syndrome:</B></FONT><B> </B>is a particular <I><B>set of symptoms</B></I><I> </I>that define a particular disease and are always associated with that disease. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Vaccine:</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" >This is an antigen made up to in controlled strength and used to desensitise the body.  Also known as desensitisation. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>TO PRINT</B></I><I> this page, </I><I><B>FIRST</B></I><I> </I>click anywhere<I> on this paragraph you are now reading and </I><I><B>THEN </B></I><I>just press the print button on you browser.</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Courtesy of The Allergy Centre 03 9874 4144</B></I></div> <div>  <A NAME="this_page_was_last_reviewed_on_6th_june"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >This page was last reviewed on 17th Aug 200</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>